Cramps in Calfs

Parmma · March 31st, 2008, 10:47 AM

On Sat Morning I woke up with very painful leg cramps in my calfs, I was able to walk them out but since then my calfs have been Extremely sore like there is a big knot in the top of both of my calfs

it is painful to walk after sitting for too long ..

I have tried massaging them out but they are too painful to rub for long ..

Any suggestions would be grateful

I am 26 weeks pregnant

**Kitt3n** · March 31st, 2008, 11:02 AM

Oh you poor thing - i used to get this all the time when pg - there isnt much you can do except i found that if i put ice on it while the cramp was actually happening (obviosuly you need to hve soemone there to grab it for you!)..... which makes the duration of the follow on pains a little faster to recover.

also, eat soem more salt

**blackduckies** · March 31st, 2008, 11:04 AM

Hi can't really help, just wanted to tell you I have had leg cramps in all my pregnancies, usually third trimester. I am pregnant again and this time have had them from straight away. I am currently 16 weeks. I try to avoid stretching in bed etc. I am guessing it is a definancy of some kind, might google this myself, so far mine aren't that severe,so have'nt bothered yet!!!!!

**mintz** · March 31st, 2008, 11:35 AM

It can be from a deficiency in magnesium or calcium, so try topping up on both of those and eat lots of bananas too!

morgan78 · March 31st, 2008, 12:25 PM

Tonic water can help - i had shocking cramps both times & it helped me heaps

**Hollybolly** · March 31st, 2008, 01:32 PM

I had this all through my pregnancy - and so did my mum.

She told me to drink a glass of pineapple juice every morning - and it worked perfectly

I found that the juice in the tin (like golden circle) worked better than normal juice in a plastic bottle - it may have something to do with the aluminium???

Who knows, but it worked for me

Good Luck

**Astrid** · March 31st, 2008, 03:01 PM

I find taking a couple of Rennies at night helps with the cramps as well as any heartburn. They contain magnesium and calsium. If they get very bad have a chat to your Dr or chemist to see what you are allowed to take, there are some specific cramp tablets on the market that may be useful.

**rufalina** · March 31st, 2008, 03:05 PM

I find taking a couple of Rennies at night helps with the cramps as well as any heartburn.

*snap* I was going to say exactly the same thing. They work well for me.

Also drink plenty of water. I find that the days when I get the leg cramps I have not drunk as much as on other days.

**sassy123** · March 31st, 2008, 03:07 PM

i have been gettin them really bad. it feels liek they last forever and for the next 3 or 4 days i can hardly walk.

pineapple juice???????? i swear i read somewhere that it can bring on contractions...prob just an old wives tale but.

**Tannis** · March 31st, 2008, 08:05 PM

I got them really bad when I was PG with my DS, the Dr said it was lack of calcium so I took an extra calcium tablet as well as my normal pregnancy vitamins, also the Dr told me to stretch out my calves before I went to bed each night and I found that worked wonders, each night that I forgot to strech were the nights that I woke up in agony with the cramps. I remember if the calf cramps for too long it will feel like you've pulled a muscle. *touch wood* it hasn't happened so far in this pregnancy.

Good luck, I hope it gets better

**Ginger** · March 31st, 2008, 08:31 PM

i took blackmores magnesium tablets and found they really helped..

**SweetPea** · April 2nd, 2008, 06:53 PM

I found that when I felt the cramp coming I would flex my foot up and that helped to stretch out the calf muscle.

RochelleW · April 4th, 2008, 06:43 PM

I've been having shocking cramps the last few days too and according to DP salt is usually what you need more of, but i'll definitely have a go at the pineapple juice!

**satya** · April 5th, 2008, 08:35 AM

I have only had one single cramp during the whole of the second tri.

I eat cashews every day as I'm trying to keep my iron levels up. I've only just found out that eating them is thought to keep leg cramps away. Looks like it could be true.

I also have been living on Tums throughout the second tri (due to indigestion) and I believe they have added calcium in them so it could also be them that's helped.

**Nai** · April 5th, 2008, 11:03 AM

Magnesium deficiency is usually the cause of cramps - the Blackmores Bio-Mangnesium are good. Also Brazil nuts help as they are a good source of magnesium.

**Astrid** · April 5th, 2008, 01:32 PM

Mmm - could be partly why I have been craving nuts this past week. I have been on the verge of cramps and a bit slack with taking my Rennies of an evening.